Guard Training for Life Saving Story and photo by Pfc. Ubon Mendie, New York Guard Headquarters five detailed parts, instructed by lecture, video CAMP SMITH – Members of the New York tutorials and hands on implementation with Guard Initial Entry Training Class 2010 were instructor supervision. front and center, learning first aid training Topics covered included recognizing and here Oct. 2. responding to emergencies, where members The training was conducted by four instructrained on correctly identifying an emergency tors from the Academy of Medical and Public response situation. Health Services (AMPHS). The sections taught included patient assess“We are trying to promote better response ment to identify ailments; medical emergency to life threatening emergencies,” said Hewett cases that directly relate to internal body funcChu, AMPHS President, and lead instructor. “We want to integrate into training a health and tions, including heart attack, diabetic induced attacks or stroke; trauma emergencies which safety focus in a basic training environment.” are fractures, broken bones and other related Chu also explained how the training received injuries and environmental emergencies which can be utilized both in the Guard and in everyare heat and cold related ailments. day living. “This was great training,” said Pvt. David “The lessons learned can help in everyday life Kyzer, from Buffalo’s 65th Brigade. “What and while on duty,” Chu added. “With the wide I learned could help me save a life. I have a range of work that the New York Guard promother with a lot of ailments, so I really paid vides, Soldiers can be in areas where respondclose attention. ing to emergencies can be crucial to a patients’ All attendees were awarded the American survival. Heart Association Heart Saver First Aid CertiThe class of 26 New York Guard volunteers fication. represented different brigades from every section of the state. The class was broken into
Specialist Diana Sapeg, a medic in the 88th Brigade practices First Aid on Pfc. Lester Torres, another New York Guard member. Both graduated from the New York Guard’s Initial Entry Training Oct. 3.
The NY Guard Resonates With VA Residents Story and photo by Pfc. Ubon Mendie, New York Guard BRONX - New York Guard Soldier’s banded together to create therapeutic music at the James J. Peters Veterans Administration Medical Center, July 20. The New York Guard presented the hospital with about 36 restored musical instruments during a morning ceremony held in the facilities chapel. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of an effort to give an opportunity to those who have sacrificed the same for all Americans,” said Maj. Gen. Fergal Foley, commander for the New York Guard as he addressed a crowd of veterans and others viewing a live broadcast in various parts of the hospital grounds via closed circuit television. The presentation of instruments closed a long drive spearheaded by the 56th Brigade’s Maj. Bob Coulombe. In a conversation with Betsy Faden, a Bronx VA recreation therapist, Coulombe found out there was a need he could help facilitate. “I heard there were volunteers willing to Fall 2010
teach veterans, but they didn’t have any instruments,” Coulombe said. “At drill, I asked everyone to take part in the drive and they did”. After publishing an article on the New Castle Now News website about the drive, more instruments came in from the surrounding area of Chappaqua. After collecting the instruments, minor repairs and adjustments were needed. “One of the Soldier’s in our brigade convinced her boyfriend Mark Hitt, a professional musician, to come to Camp Smith to tune and repair some of the string instruments that had been donated,” Coulombe added. During the ceremony, Hitt performed an improve selection on his guitar. “This was a wonderful and generous undertaking,” said Medical Center Director, MaryAnn Musumeci. “We are grateful to the Guard and our friends in the community for their efforts on behalf of our veterans. We look forward to some beautiful music resulting from this project.”
Marie Crooke, the J. Peters VA Medical Center patient care director, Maj. Gen. Fergal Foley, commander, New York Guard, Betsy Faden, VA recreation therapist, and Maj. Bob Coulombe, 65th Brigade during a presentation ceremony of musical instruments, July 30.
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